Packing casing bowl



Oct. 15, 1935'. H. P. wlcKERsHAM PACKING CASING BOWL 2 ySheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. '21, 1933 lll/1 l/l/ 10,4

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I4 I l l l l IIT l l I Il Oct. 15, 1935. H. P. wlcKERsHAM PACKING CASING BOWL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 21, 1933 Illlllllllll m cw MWJL@ Patented Oct. l5, 1935 ESv PA'IEN'I` QFFICE PACKIG CASING BOWL Harry P. Wickersham,

Huntington Park, Calif.,

assignor to` Baash-Ross Tool Company, Los Angeles, Calif., `a` corporation of California Application November Z1, 1933, Serial No. 699,003.

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for use in wells and relates more particularly two sections of casing in a bowl for connecting well. It is a general to a casing object of the invention to provide a simple, practical casing bowl to be `Eitudinal run into a well on a is adapted to dependably and string of casing, and that securely connect a defective part of the When a well casing has the freed upper portion and new o r replacement well to replace it. A

casing to be replaced. broken or has been cut, is pulled from the well casing is run into the device commonly known as a casing bowl is usually provided on the lower end of the string of replacement casing to connect with the portion of casing remaining in the well. It is customary to provide a casing bowl with packing-for sealing or packing with the casing in the well. The longitudinalv strain to which a string of well casing is typical casing bowls to be of position so that it is not eiIective in sealing with the packing of the forced or flowed out normally subjected causes the casing lin the well.

It is an object of this linvention to provideI a casing bowl adapted to be attached to the lower end of a string of replacementwell casing that is capable of dependably connecting with a section of casing in the well, and of maintaining a tight, eiective packing engagement or seal with the casing in the well It is another object which the packing is flow out of its proper Vide a Packing Casing Y of the invention to provide a casing bowl of the character mentioned in not displaced or caused to sealing position by the lon-l strain on the casing. It is another object of the invention to probowl in'which the packing is closely coniined between two spaced rings arranged in the body of the bowl adapted to contract onto the well casing so that it cannot be pressed or forced out 'It is another object a pecking casing vparticularly effective It is another of position. of the invention to provide bowl embodying improved and packing means.

object vof the invention to provide a packing casing bowl that it adapted to connect and pack with casing the replacement casing diameter as is attached.

It isa further vide a packing casing in the well ofthe same to which it object of this invention to probowl of charactermentioned that is simple and inexpensive of manufacture. A

Other objects and features of the invention will be better and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal detailed sectional view of the casing bowl provided by the present in- 10 vention illustrating it attached to a casing being lowered into a well, and in a positon about to pass Ionto a section of casing in the well. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal detailed sectional view of the casing bowl illustrating it in positon 15 around the casing in the well, and with its parts in the unactuated positions. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts of the casing bowl in the actuated positions. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged transverse detailed sectional views taken as indicated by lines 4-4 and 5-5 respectively, on Fig. 3.

The casing bowl provided by this invention includes generally a body III adapted to be connected to the lower end of what Iwill term replacement casing R, and adaptedto pass over the upper portion of a section of casing C In a well W, sealing or packing means II in the body I0 for packing with the casing C, and means I2 -for gripping the casing C.

The body I0 is an elongate tubular structure carrying or housing the various other parts of the device. The tubular body I0 is intended to be attached to the lower end of a string of replacement casing, and is adaptedto receive or pass over the upper portion of al section of casing C in awell. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the body I0 is sectional, including an upper section I3 and a lower or main section Il. The upper section I3 of the body is 40 adapted to be threaded onto the lower end. of the casing R, having a threaded socket I5 for the reception ofthe threaded lower end of the casing.

A downwardly facing annular shoulder I6 is prov videdl on the interior of the upper body section 45 I3.v lThe opening I1 in the body section I3 is sufficiently large in diameter to freely receive the upper portion of the casing C, and the shoulder I6 may come into engagement with the upper end of the casing 'to limit the downward movement the device on the casing. The lower or main section I4 of the body is threadedly connected with the upper section I3 at IB. The lower end of the section I3 forms downwardly facing shoulders I9' in the body. The lower end part of the section I4 65 is shaped to effectively pass over or onto the casing C, having a rounded lower end and upwardly and inwardly converging inner walls 20. An upwardly facing annular shoulder 2| is provided on the inner wall of the lower body section I4 at the upper end of, the converging wall 20. The shoulder 2| is inclined downwardly and inwardly. The lower body section I4 is preferably comparatively long, as illustrated throughout the drawings, and the major portion of its opening 22 extending from the shoulder I9 to the shoulder 2| is larger in diameter than the casing C so that it is adapted to carry the packing means II and the gripping means I2. It is to be noted that the body I and the other parts of the device are proportioned so that the device is adapted to connect two lengths or sections of casing of the same diameter.

The packing means II is provided to pack between the casing C in the well and the body I0. The packing means II includes a multiplicity of packing rings 23 arranged in the body opening 22 above the shoulder 2|. The packing rings 23 are superimposed ,or arranged one on the other, and their abutting ends 24 areinclined. In the particular case illustrated the cooperating or abutting ends 24 downwardly and inwardly. The outer ends of the uppermost and lowermost packing rings 23 are iiat and normal to the longitudinal axis of the tool. The packing rings 23 are of the same respective internal and external diameters, and the opening formed by thel multiplicity of packing rings 23 is initially sufficiently large in diameter to pass the casing C with suitable clearance, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In accordance with the invention, the packing rings 23 are formed of lead or its substitutes. In being formed of lead, or the like, the packing rings 23 are lcapable of making a very tight and effective seal between the casing C and the inner wall o f the body I0, and are not as soft and subject to undesirable distortion and flowing' as rubber or rubber compositions. f

It is a feature of the invention that rings 26 of steel, or the like, are arranged in the body opening 22 at the opposite ends of the assembly of packing rings 23. The rings 26 act as packing glands as they operate to retain or hold Athe packing in place. The rings 26 at the opposite endsof the assembly of packing rings 23 prevent the material of which the packing rings are formedA Afrom being pressed or forced out from between them. 'I'he rings 26 are split and have lapped parts 2'I at their cuts or splits.'` 'I'he lapped parts 2'I are related so that the rings 26 are capable of substantial expansion and contraction. The ends or end faces of the rings 26 engaging the exposed ends of the uppermost and lowermost packing rings 23 are preferably ilat and normal. The upper end 28 of the upper ring 26 is inclined downwardly and outwardly for cooperating with an element of the gripping means I2 as will be subsequently described. 'I'he lower end 29 of the lower ring 26 is inclined downwardly and inwardly to cooperate with the correspondingly inclined body shoulder 2 I. The gland rings 26 are initially of substantially the same internal and external diameters as the packing rings 23. 'Ihe rings 26 are adapted to be contracted onto the casing C to grip the casing and prevent'the packing 23 from being forced or owedlongitudinally ofthe casing.

The gripping means I2 is adapted'to grip the casing C and to provide for the compression or actuation of the packing means II when an upof the packing rings 23 are inclined well.

strain is taken and maintained on the casing. The gripping means I2 includes a sleeve or tubular spider 30, and a slip or gripping member 3| in the spider. The spider 3U is shiftable or slidable longitudinally in the body opening 22 and normally or initially has limited longitudinal movement in the body between the shoulder I 6 and the upper ring 26. The lower end 32 of the spider 30 is adapted to cooperate with the upper end 28 of the upper ring, being of the same pitch or inclination as the face 28. The spider 30 is preferably comparatively long, and the walls of its opening 35 are downwardly and inwardly convergent, as illustrated throughout the drawings.

The slip or gripping member 3| is a tubular element arranged within the spider 30. The gripping member 3| is operated or contracted upon upward movement of the spider 30 to' tightly grip the casing C. The exterior or periphery of the gripping member 3| is tapered or inclined downwardly and inwardly to have sliding cooperation with the interior of the spider 30. A plurality of circumferential ridges or teeth 38 is provided on the interior of the gripping member 3| to bite Vinto or grip the casing. In accordance with the invention,.the gripping member 3| is longitudinally split to be contractible upon upward movement of the spider 30 relative to the gripping member. Meshing or overlapping parts 4D are provided at the longitudinal split in the gripping member 3| to prevent the longitudinal distortion of the gripping member. The gripping member 3| is adapted t0 pass downwardly around the casing C when the tool is run onto the casing, and its ment-with respect to the body IU is limited by the downwardly facing shoulder I9.

'I'he upper end portion of the casing C remaining in the well is preferably cleaned olf or smoothed 01T by suitable tools prior tothe run-` ning of the new or replacement casing into the 'Ihistreatment of the casing C prepares it for reception in the casing bowl. The casing bowl of the invention vis adapted to be attached to the lower end of the new or replacement casing R, and is adapted to be run into the well with its parts in the positions illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Upon the device reaching the upper end of the casing C, the guiding lower portion of the body I0 guids the body onto the casing C. The packing rings 23 and the'gland or retaining `rings 26 may pass over the casing C -With suitable clearance, while the gripping member may yieldingly contact with the casing C so that it is held up against the shoulder I9 as the device passes downwardly over the casing C. When the new or replacement casing R has been lowered until the shoulder I6 engages the upper end of the casing C, an up pull or strain may be put on the casing R to actuate the casing bowl. The upward mvement of the body III on the lower end of the casing R, of course, results in corresponding upward movement ol.' the spider shoulder 2| through the packing means II. The cooperating inclined surfaces of the spider 30 and gripping member 3| cause the gripping member to be tightly contracted into gripping and holding engagement/with the casing C as the spider 30 moves upwardly relative to the gripping member.

spider 30 and the gripping member 3|. As just 75' upward move- 30, which is supported on the body may appear to described, this up pull or tensile strain contracts the gripping member 3| onto the casing C and maintains it in tightcooperation with the casing C. The force or strain transmitted through the packing means il causes the packing rings 23 to be compressed tightly against the exterior of the casing C and the wall of the body opening 22. The inclined body shoulder 2| in acting upwardly against the inclined lower end of the lower ring 26 causes contraction of the ring 26 so that it tightly grips and seals with the casing C. The cooperation of the inclined upper end 28 of the upper ring 26 with the lower end of the spider 30 results in similarcontraction of the upper ring 25 so that it too tightly grips the casing C. The contraction of the rings 26 onto the casing C prevents the packing rings 23 from being flowed or forced upwardly or downwardly around the casing. It will be apparent how the rings 25 act to retain the packing rings 23 in their proper positions and proper sealing condition so that an eifective seal may be maintained between the casing C andthe body l0 for an indefinite period. The material of which the packing rings 23 are formed cannot be forced or squeezed out from around the casing C as the contracted rings 26 completely close oi the space between the body I0 and casing C at the upper and lower ends of the assembly of packing rings. It is to be noted that the present invention provides a packing casingvbowl that is positive and dependable in operation, andl that is capable of maintaining an eifective seal or packing cooperation with the casing in the well indefinitely.

Having described only typical forms and applications of the invention I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific forms or applications herein set forth, but wish to reserve l to myself any modifications or variations that those skilled inthe art or fall within the scope of the following claims: Having described my-invention, I claim: l. In a casing bowl, a tubular body adapt-ed to be passed over a casing, ductile packing in the body for packing ends of the packing initially freely passing the casing and adapted to contract under pressure onto .the casing to prevent the packing from escaping along the casing. d

2. In a casing bowl, a tubular body adapted to be passed over a casing, packing in the body for packing between the body and the casing, and flexible split rings engaging the opposite ends of the packing initially receiving the casing with clearance and adapted to contract onto the casing to prevent the packing from escaping along the casing. Y

3. In a casing bowl,'a tubular body to b'e passed over a casing, an assembly of ductile metallic packing rings in the body operable under compression fto seal between the body andv casing, contractible members at the ends of the assembly contractible onto the casing to tightly embrace the same when the assembly is" put under corripression to prevent the packing from owing longitudinally of the assembly sion.

4. A casing bowl including a tubular body to be passed over -a casing, means supported in the body for packing with the casing, said means including packing expansible inwardly under ccmpression to seal with the body and casing, and contractible rings at in the body, packing in between the body and the cas. ing, and contractible members at the opposite' the casing, and means for putting I and the members. under compresthe opposite ends of the packing adapted to initially receive the casing with clearance and contractible under compression to tightly embrace the casing to preventiongitudinal spreadingof the packing, and means for gripping the casing supported by the packing means through one of said/rings whereby a longitudinal strain on the device is transmitted through the packing to contract the rings and expand the packing.

5. A device of the character described including, a' tubular` body adapted to be passed over a casing in a well, there being an inclined shoulder in the body, packing in the body for sealing between thev body and the casing when subjected to compression, a iiexible split ring at an end of the packing having an inclined surface seated on said shoulder whereby engagement with the casing when under compression, the ring having a normal surface supporting one end of the packing, V'and means for gripping the casing and supported by the packing whereby the packing and ring are subjected the ring contracts into close inclined end resting on said face, and means cary rled by the member for gripping the casing to be held against upward movement whereby the packing is compressed and the ring contracted when an upward strain is put on the body.

7. A device of the character described including, a tubulargbody adapted to be passed over a casing in a well, there being an inclined shoulder the body for sealing between the body and the. casing when subjected to compression, a.split ring at the lower end of the packing having an inclined face seated on said shoulder to support the packing in the body, a split ring on the upper end of the packing having an inclined upper end, the rings initially y freely receiving the casing and contractible'to tightly embrace the casing, a memberrhaving' an inclined surface seated on said inclined'end o! the last mentioned ring. and a casing gripping element actuated by the member into stationary :sol

gripping engagement with the casing when anl upward strain put on the body whereby the packing. and rings are put under compression by the strain.

8. In a casing bowl, a tubular body adapted to pass over a casing in a Well, and a packing assembly supported in the body for sealing between the inner wall of the body'and the casing, sald"assem` of superimposed rings Y bly includinga plurality whose abutting ends are inclined downwardly and inwardly.

9. In a casing bowl, a tubular body adapted to pass. over a casing-in a well, a packing assembly supported in the body, said assembly including a plurality of superimposed leadrings having their abutting ends inclined downwardly and inwardly, .and means for maintaining the assembly under compression to expand it into packing engagement with the inner wall of the body and the casing.

10. A well t ol including, a tubular body adapted to be passed over a casing, packing supported inthe body and expansible under compression to seal between the body and the casing, a tubular spider in the body supported by the packing, the interior of the spider being downwardly convergent, and a tubular longitudinally split slip operable through cooperation with the interior of the spider when an upward strain is put on the body to hold the spider against movement whereby the strain co presses the packing to grip the casing, the slip having lapped parts at its split.

11. In a casing bowl, a tubular body adapted to pass over a casing in a "well, a tubular packing `assembly in the body eompressible into packing )aoperation with the body'andcasing, and split f rings at the ends of the packing contractble onto the casing when under compression to prevent the packing from owing longitudinally, the rings having lapped parts at their splits to prevent the ow of packing therethrough.

12. A casing bowl including a tubular body to be run into a Well on the lower end of a well casing to pass over the upper portion of a casing in the well, the longitudinal opening in the body having an upper portion as large in diameter las the openings in the said casings to form a continuation thereof and having a lower portion of enlarged diameter, an vupwardly facing shoulder in the lower portion of the body, a exible split ring on the shoulder contractible onto the second mentioned casing when under compression, a packing assembly resting on said ring contractible under compression to seal between the body and second mentioned casing, a flexible split ring on thel upper end ofv the packing assembly contractible onto the second mentioned casing under compression, a tubular member resting on the last mentioned ring having an inclined internal surface, anda gripping slip in the tubular member actuated into substantially stationary gripping engagement with the second mentioned casing when an upward pull is put on the rst mentioned casing to hold the tubular member relatively stationary whereby the packing assembly and the rings are compressed between the shoulder and the tubular member by the upward pull.

HARRY P. WICKERSHAM. 

